The OTOP Fair 2018 is scheduled to dazzle those in attendance with creative Thai entrepreneurship from every province on full display in interactive product pavilions and events.

This year marks the seventh edition of the show, taking place from 11 to 19 August, from 10.00 – 21.00 Hrs., at Challenger Hall 1-3, IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center.

‘One Tambon One Product’ (OTOP) is a grass roots government stimulus initiative to promote entrepreneurship by endorsing homemade local products from Thai tambons.

OTOP Fair 2018 features an exhibition zone to honour His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand and royal patron of Thai art and culture.

There is a ‘Highlight’ zone, spanning 2,500 square metres, including a 1,000-square-metre pavilion that showcases ‘starred OTOP products’ from over 100 villages. Another 1,000-square-metre pavilion is dedicated to ‘OTOP Signature’ products from more than 40 additional provinces.

This sprawling zone also features a 250-square-metre pavilion with 12 booths showcasing textiles and products from villages surrounding the royal residences in four regions: the hand woven textile of Khao Tao village near the Klai Kangwon Palace, Prachuap Khiri Khan; the silk of Sakon Nakhon (Phu Phan Ratchaniwet Palace); the hand woven cloth of Chiang Mai (Bhubing Rajanives Palace); and the local textile of Krok Kae Village and the finest products handmade from Yan Lipao (vine fern) and Krajood (straw reed) (Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace).

*Some of the items available at the OTOP Fair 2018

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In addition, there is a 250-square-metre area with 16 booths, showcasing four types of Thai textiles, including cotton, silk, signature textiles from provinces across the country, and tribal costumes. Plus, there is also special booth providing dressmaking services and showcasing innovative basket and wickerwork production process.

Moreover, there are 2,000 additional booths selling items across a diverse spectrum of OTOP categories, as well as booths from the Ministry of Industry, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre and the Disabilities Thailand.

Other OTOP Fair 2018 activities include a ‘Street Food’ zone with over 250 booths, daily live music and cultural performance in addition to games and lucky draws. Service zone offers health and spa services, wi-fi corner, mobile banking units, postal unit, kid’s corner and rest area serving tea and coffee from Thailand’s four regions.

Ratchaburi Art Centric returns on 10 to 12 August with one of the coolest happenings on the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) annual calendar of events. Artists and craftsmen from all around the province will converge for a three-day celebration of creativity along the banks of the Mae Klong river.

There are two activities in front of the Ratchaburi National Museum. One showcases ‘Ong Mungkorn’, the large sculpted water jars which the province is famous for and a DIY sculpture workshop to teach visitors how to sculpt.

Phuket, 27 June, 2018 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with Surfing Thailand and Phuket Surfing Club is organising the “Phuket Surf Series 2018+ Khao Lak” that will run from June to October 2018.

This falls during the annual ‘Green’ or monsoon season in Thailand’s Southern Region when swells from the Bay of Bengal are most consistent for both beach and reef breaks along the Andaman coast. Phuket is Thailand’s best surfing destination but is not yet on any of the international surfing tour circuits; however, there are an estimated 300 Thai and foreign surfers in the region.

The “Phuket Surf Series 2018+ Khao Lak” will be held at Patong, Kamala, Kalim, Surin Becahes in Phuket, as well as Pakarang Beach at Khao Lak, Phang-nga province, which will be the final event in the competition.

Mrs. Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, Director of TAT Phuket Office, said: “The Phuket Surf Series 2018+ Khao Lak will further reinforce Phuket’s image as a sports destination and generate tourism revenue for the province. The event will also help encourage surfers both around Asia and overseas to visit and participate in this series of amateur surfing competitions.”

The Phuket Surf Series 2018+ Khao Lak will comprise six competitions between June to October 2018 as follows:

The Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon 2018 coming up on 5 August is more than just a race. It is a chance to observe the local way of life and appreciate the area’s landmarks and Sino-Portuguese architecture from a different perspective.

A perspective not normally possible in busy Phuket town, this being from the streets themselves which will be cleared of traffic along the race route.

The ‘Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon 2018’ features three race distances of five km, 10 km and 21 km. All three routes start and finish at Saphan Hin on the Phuket town shoreline and pass by the key landmarks of Saphan Hin Mining Monument and Surin Circle Clock Tower. The 10 km and 21 km routes also include Wichit Sangkaram temple and Put Jor temple, while the 21 km route passes by Makham Mai Son Bay too.

The 21 km race starts at 05.15 Hrs. and has a four hour cut-off time, the 10 km race starts at 06.00 Hrs. with a two hour cut-off time and the five km race starts at 06.15 Hrs. with a one hour cut-off time. There is also the Junior Clinic three km run starting at 06.30 Hrs., with the awards ceremony following at 07.00 Hrs.

On the day before the event, 4 August, participants need to collect their bib number and race kit at Limelight Avenue Phuket, between 10.00 – 18.00 Hrs.

Registration for runners can be done online at teelakow.com up until 30 June, or until all 6,000 places are filled. Runners will receive a race shirt and bib, event medal and replenishments at drink and fruit stations located every two km along the race route

Bangkok Midnight Marathon returns this year, from 25 to 26 August 2018, at Rattanakosin Island.

The event is divided into three distances including 42-kilometre Full Marathon, 21-kilometre Half Marathon and 10-kilometre Mini Marathon that all start and finish at Phra Nakorn district.

Each distance has a given time to finish the run, including the 42 km. run starts at 11:59 Hrs. and concludes at 06:59 Hrs. (six hours); the 21 km. run starts at 03:00 Hrs. and concludes at 06:00 Hrs. (three hours and a half); the 10 km. run starts at 03:30 Hrs. concludes at 05:30 Hrs. (two hours). Runners who finish the race within cut off time will receive finisher shirt (accept Mini Marathon).

This year’s theme is ‘Run with Thai Tone’ inspired by ‘Thainess’, Thai food, Thai cultural and Thai silk, with its colourful patterns of ‘Phakhawma’. This unique Thai cloth is part of event posters, medals and goodie bag decoration provided to participants.

The concept is in line with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s marketing campaign of Amazing Thailand’s ‘Open to the New Shades’ which is encourages visitors to see Thailand from new perspective.

Registration is opening now on runlah.com. Applicants will receive bib, race shirt, goodie bag, medal, food and drinks plus insurance as well as a certificate.